quote:I love to see LSU in a press. However with limited depth, 40 minutes of full court press will cost us at the end of games. Working in a half-court press in the first half might offer defensive intensity with a reprieve from the exhaustion of a full court press.

All I will say on this is it wears down both teams. Both teams lack depth. LSU is much better running than in half court offense, and Kentucky does have more talent.

Something will have to happen out of the ordinary for LSU to win and I think the press gives us a better chance at achieving something special in the press for 40 minutes than waiting till we are down 15 to get into it.

Kentucky doesn't hanlding the press well and they don't score they ball all that great, One of there big men is a 6"10 shooter so he doesn't come in the paint a lot, if LSU can create turnovers and Knock down a few shoots, with out getting crushed on the Off rebounding depart, they can win.

quote:Does Kentucky press, and has LSU really seen a pressing defense this year?

They haven't really pressed in what I've seen of them.

LSU did play Northwestern early in the season that did some press. Maybe a few others have touched it. I remember one game (forget which one) but we were trying to dribble out of the press too much rather than passing out of it. Could be an issue, but I don't think that's Kentuckys game.

They are a shot blocking team, but not much stealing going on with them.

A team that does not handle the press well and will not press back, but likes to be up tempo. Sounds like we should press a lot. I would expect CJJ to use all of his timeouts in the first half of this one to keep Kentucky from going on runs.

quote:A team that does not handle the press well and will not press back, but likes to be up tempo. Sounds like we should press a lot. I would expect CJJ to use all of his timeouts in the first half of this one to keep Kentucky from going on runs.

My main worry; JOB3 foul trouble.

I think LSU presses early and often. I agree the biggest concern is JOB foul trouble. We we able to win the aTm game due to him playing 35 minutes. Otherwise, Im not sure we pull it out.

We really need to get them frustrated and take the crowd out early. Some early steals and 3's could really mess with the young Kentucky teams head.

Certainly not a game anyone should "expect" LSU to win, but although they are supremely talented, this isn't last year's UK team. If the season ended today, UK would be squarely on the bubble to make the NCAAT. While I dont think they'll end the season that way, at this point this looks to be one of the more "beatable" UK teams under Calipari. Problem is, man for man they are more talented than LSU, and LSU has really struggled to get consistent scoring in SEC play.

For LSU to win this game, JOB will have to get a double-double, the Coleman that showed up against A&M will have to show up in Rupp, and either Hickey or Stringer will have to go off for something in the 18-24 pt range. LSU also has to be careful with the ball, while forcing UK into some turnovers. A tall task indeed, but not completely impossible.

quote:O'Bryant has gone away from his fading shot and made some moves attacking the basket which have helped him with two consecutive double doubles.

Only took him a year and a half and about 20 consectutive missed fall-aways, but glad he's finally seemed to get it. Now the 18-footers still have to go, cause he ain't making those either.

Best thing is he's boarding now. Hope he keeps that up.

quote:LSU will need a similar effort from Anthony Hickey to win in Rupp. Is it possible? Of course. Likely? Absolutely not.

IMHO Hickey is shooting just a little bit too much. I've noticed the last two games he's made some good moves into the lane and drawn defenders. But where he almost always used to find the open man, he's now taking more of the tougher shots than he used to.

Is it by the coaches direction? Maybe, but I'd like to see him strike more of the balance he used to have pass/shoot. His assist numbers are down a bit too low.